TD Toronto Jazz Festival 25th Anniversary

For Immediate Release:

Toronto – The TD Toronto Jazz Festival will kick off its 25th edition this summer at a familiar stomping ground - The Entertainment District - where Metro Square will be the new headquarters for the Main stage Marquee. Honouring the inaugural season that started with just three locations, 2011 will mark a return to the Festival's roots for its silver anniversary.

Confirmed for 2011 is Return to Forever IV, the fourth instalment of this groundbreaking ensemble that started in the early 1970s. Chick Corea, with special guest Jean-Luc Ponty will grace the stage of the Sony Centre on Tuesday, June 28 for a dynamic electro-acoustic show. Performing songs from the RTF classic Hymn of the Seventh Galaxy, this remarkable group of musicians is looking to throw in a few new twists for an adventurous and compelling show to remember.

Also confirmed is banjo master Bela Fleck (Thursday, June 30) with his blend of blu-pop and jazz fusion. Performing with The Original Flecktones (Victor Wooten, Futureman and Howard Levy) on the Toronto Star Stage, in the Mainstage Marquee, this tour is in support of an upcoming release, their first recording in over 19 years.

Paco de Lucia, world renowned flamenco guitarist, will set the Sony Centre alight on Monday, June 27 as he plays with unparalleled speed, precision and passion. Pat Metheny calls him, "the greatest in the world, period."

Tickets - Sony Centre Box Office at 1.855.872.7669

"The Entertainment District is where it all started for the Jazz Festival. What better way to celebrate 25 years of jazz in Toronto than at the heart of the entertainment district", states Patrick Taylor, Executive Producer and CEO. "To move forward in jazz, respect must be paid to the traditions of the past and that is exactly what we are doing in 2011. Let's break new ground with a venue that connects the future of the Festival to its past."

"It's not just Toronto that has designs on John Street – the whole world wants to come to this street" states Councillor Adam Vaughan. "The Jazz Festival will be a great new addition to this exciting neighbourhood."

The TD Toronto Jazz Festival, running from June 24 – July 3, 2011, will commemorate in style over 10 jam-packed days with 350 concerts, 1,500 musicians in over 40 locations and 500,000 people from near and far.

This year's Festival is not to be missed and a must-see summer event as the Festival joins forces with the Entertainment District to create a new and exciting vision for this Toronto hot-spot. Catch a great show or settle in for a few days, but be sure to join us as we celebrate with some of the biggest names jazz has to offer.

For The full line-up of the TD Toronto Jazz Festival please visit the official website at: www.torontojazz.com

Media Contact:

Anna Tom / Laura Tulley

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